By Alex R. Thiersch, JD, CEO of the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa)

AmSpa is excited to offer four different educational opportunities over the weekend of May 19 – 21, 2023 in Dallas. Medical spa professionals can participate in: the Dallas Medical Spa Boot Camp, where they will learn how to run a legally compliant and profitable medical spa practice; the Academy for Injection Anatomy (AIA) Advanced Cadaver Course, which provides injector-specific instruction in facial anatomy, complete with a hands-on cadaver dissection lab; the AIA Foundations of Injection Anatomy and Practice, which trains new injectors to start their careers safely, compliantly and with confidence; and Ultrasound Fundamentals for the Aesthetic Instructor, which gives injectors hands-on training for the use of ultrasound to visualize facial anatomy.

Below are the agendas for the Dallas Medical Spa Boot Camp and AIA Advanced Cadaver Course. (Speakers are subject to change.)

Medical Spa Boot Camp

Starting Friday, May 19, AmSpa will host its Dallas Medical Spa Boot Camp at Dallas Marriott Downtown, and we’re extremely excited for the opportunity to help medical aesthetic professionals develop their practices. There’s still time to register for the event—just sign up here. Here’s a quick overview of the program:

Friday, May 19

The Boot Camp kicks off with a welcome reception, sponsored by Allergan Aesthetics.

6 – 7:30 p.m.: Boot Camp and AIA Kickoff Reception and Keynote Speaker—Meet other medical aesthetic professionals attending the Boot Camp, as well as the Academy for Injection Anatomy Advanced Cadaver Course. This event features a full open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres.

Saturday, May 20

The Boot Camp begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast, sponsored by DoctorLogic. My opening keynote follows at 8:30 a.m. From there, we will move into the main program:

• 9 – 10 a.m.: The Plan, presented by Bryan Durocher (Durocher Enterprises)—What are the most effective ways to develop a business plan for your medical spa? Medical spa consultant Bryan Durocher discusses the ins and outs of the planning process and helps determine how long it realistically takes to open a practice.
• 10 – 11 a.m.: The Financials, presented by Jessica Nunn (Maven Financial Partners)—Do you know your medical spa’s strengths and weaknesses? This presentation will discuss how to maximize, predict and follow up on financial metrics to reach your medical spa’s financial goals.
• 1:45 – 3:45 p.m.: The Law, presented by Bradford Adatto, JD, and Michael Byrd, JD, (ByrdAdatto) and Alex R. Thiersch, JD (AmSpa)—In this presentation, Brad Adatto, JD, Michael Byrd, JD, and Alex R. Thiersch, JD, will discuss the long-standing and emerging legal issues that every medical spa owner needs to know about. As you can imagine, there is a lot to cover here, since new concerns seem to be arising daily.
• 4:15 – 5 p.m.: Consultations That Convert, presented by Taylor Siemens, NP (Vitalyc)—As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Learn how to put your best foot forward with effective patient consultations—and how to turn them into consistent business.

Saturday continues its programming with Drinks and Appetizers from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Following drinks is the Boot Camp and AIA Reception and Dr. Surek Book Signing Opportunity from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., allowing Boot Camp attendees to meet other medical aesthetic professionals who are attending the Academy for Injection Anatomy Advanced Cadaver Course. Saturday concludes with an Educational Keynote and Session* from 7:30 – 9 p.m., sponsored by Galderma.

Sunday, May 21

The Boot Camp begins at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast.

• 8:30 – 9 a.m.: How Emotional Intelligence Will Make or Break Your Business, presented by Cathy Christensen (AmSpa)
• 9 – 10 a.m.: KPIs: How Knowing Them Will Maximize Your Revenue, presented by Ben Hernandez and Judy Kozlicki (Skytale Group)—Hernandez and Kozlicki will teach you about the top 12 most important service categories and common mistakes to avoid. This session will help you determine how to increase your hourly value and learn to measure your KPIs to increase overall profitability.
• 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: The Team, presented by Bryan Durocher (Durocher Enterprises)—A medical spa is only as good as its personnel, so it’s important to make sure you hire a staff that can do everything you want it to—and more. In this session, you’ll learn about recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who can make your medical spa dreams come true.
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Medical Spa Success Panel, Moderated by Cathy Christensen (AmSpa); Panelists: Evalyn Aguirre, RN (Evolve Aesthetics); Cary Deuber, CRNFA, CANS (Lemmon Avenue Plastic Surgery and Laser Center); Kimberly L. Evans, MD, FACOG (Sugar Land Medical Spa); Apryl Witherspoon, MSN, APRN, FNP-C (NWME Aesthetics). Medical spa leaders will discuss their paths to growth and success in this dynamic industry.
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: The Marketing Plan and Social Media, presented by Ryan McElwain (DoctorLogic)—Learn the right marketing techniques for your medical spa, along with budgeting frameworks and a social media strategy that aligns with your goals and manpower.
• 2:30 – 4 p.m.: Business-only Breakouts

*Non-CME approved classes

Also, you’ll have the chance to visit with a number of exceptional vendors throughout this event. Attend the Dallas Medical Spa Boot Camp to check out the latest and greatest from the following companies:

• Aerolase
• Allergan Aesthetics
• APX Platform
• Boulevard
• CareCredit
• Clarius
• CosmoFrance
• DoctorLogic
• Environ/DermaConcepts
• Galderma
• Maven Financial Partners
• MyAdvice
• PatientNow
• Prospyr
• Sciton
• Skytale Group
• Symplast
• Xite Healthcare Real Estate & Practice Sales
• ByrdAdatto
• AmSpa

We hope you can join us in Dallas on May 19 – 21. This AmSpa Medical Spa Boot Camp is your opportunity to join us to get your medical aesthetic business headed in the right direction and learn some tips and tricks that can take it to the next level. Sign up here to register!

AIA Advanced Cadaver Course

AIA is the preeminent teaching institution for aesthetic injectors in the world, providing unique clinical training of facial anatomy education for injectors. The original Advanced Cadaver Course trains established injectors to perform safe, confident injections with a deep understanding of facial anatomy. Sign up here to register for the AIA Advanced Cadaver Course.

Injectors beginning their journey in medical aesthetics can get an introduction to facial anatomy, the science of injectable products, injection techniques and best practices for the successful aesthetic injector with the Foundations of Injection Anatomy and Practice course, which runs on Friday, May 19. Sign up here to register for the Foundations of Injection Anatomy and Practice course.

Friday, May 19

The Dallas AIA Advanced Cadaver Course attendees kick off their weekend of clinical injection anatomy training with the networking reception on Friday, May 19. There they will meet other medical aesthetic professionals and get acquainted with their future lab partners.

Saturday, May 21

Day 2 begins on Saturday, May 20 with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., where attendees grab coffee before a day of didactic instruction with the renowned AIA faculty, led by plastic surgeon and facial anatomy Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS.

• 8 – 8:40 a.m.: Global Approach to Facial Anatomy for the Injector, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 8:40 – 9:10 a.m.: Facial Assessment for the Injector, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 9:10 – 10:25 a.m.: Anterior Midface – Facial Vasculature/Pyriform Injections, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 10:25 – 10:40 a.m.: Lateral Midface – Cheek Projection and Tear Trough, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 11:10 – 11:55 a.m.: Temple, Forehead and Peri-orbital Rejuvenation, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS, and Steven F. Weiner, MD
• 11:55 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.: Anterior and Posterior Jawline, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 12:45 – 1 p.m.: ReJAWvenation® Anatomy and Technique, presented by Steven F. Weiner, MD
• 1:50 – 2:00 p.m.: How Ultrasound Saved Me During a Significant Vascular Occlusion, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 2:00 – 2:55 p.m.: Ultrasound for the Injector and Deeper Dive into Temple & Pyriform, presented by Steven F. Weiner, MD
• 2:55 – 3:25 p.m.: Rheology “Gel Science” Review, presented by George Baxter-Holder, DNP, ARNP, CANS 
• 3:25 – 4:25 p.m.: Nasal Anatomy for the Injector and Anatomy Wrap-up and Review, presented by Christopher C. Surek, DO, FACS
• 4:25 – 5:35 p.m.: Filler Complications – Case Examples and Live Panel Discussion, presented by All Faculty

Saturday continues its programming with Q&A from 5:35 – 6 p.m. Drinks and Appetizers with Vendors follow, from 6 – 6:30 p.m, then attendees can once again network with Boot Camp attendees for a cocktail reception and Dr. Surek Book Signing Opportunity from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Saturday concludes with an Educational Keynote and Session* from 7:30 – 9 p.m., sponsored by Galderma.

Sunday, May 21

The Advanced Cadaver Course resumes on Sunday with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. 

• 8 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Hands-on Cadaver Lab, presented by All Faculty—Hands-on cadaver dissection in small groups featuring close instruction and guidance from AIA course faculty. Put your classroom anatomy training into practice by appropriately marking the specimen before injecting product and dissecting down to see how product interacts with the structures of the face. Includes ultrasound demonstration.
• 2:30 – 4 p.m.: Business-only Breakouts*

For an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy, AIA is your path to being the best aesthetic injector you can be. Register here to reserve your spot!

To view additional course information and register for these and other 2023 medical aesthetic educational opportunities, please visit www.americanmedspa.org.